eouahton



(No Model.)

S. U. HOUGHTON.

ADJUSTABLE SEAT BACK.

No. 439,403. Patented Oct. 28, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STEPHEN C. HOUGIITON, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO L. O. BRANCH, OF SAME PLACE.

ADJ USTABLE SEAT-BAG K.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 439,403, dated October 28, 1890.

Application filed May 21, 1890.

To (ZZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STEPHEN CHASE HOUGH- TON, a citizen of the United States, residing in in the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Adjustable Seat-Backs; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates, generally, to the class of seat-backs, but more especially to those backs which are adapted for use in connection with piano-stools.

Myinvention consists, essentially, of a back connected with the chair or stool by a hingejoint and a thumb screw and nut, whereby the back may be turned upon its joint to be accurately adjusted to and held securely at any inclination desired.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple adjustable back for seats, but especially for piano-stools, one which can be readily connected with and disconnected from any stool and its inclination easily and accurately determined and securely maintained.

Referring to the accompanying drawings for a more complete explanation of my invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a piano-stool, showing my adjustable back. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of same. Fig. 3 is a detail of the hinge and nut.

A is a piano-stool, of which a is the seat. B is the back. This is connected at its lower edge by a hinge-joint U with the lower edge of the back of the stool, and this joint is limited and controlled by means of a thumbscrew D, which is properly fitted in the lower portion of the back at a point above the hinge-connection, and is threaded in a nut E let into the center of the back of the stool. Now, by turning this thumb-screw in one direction or the other, the back B may have its inclination varied as may be desired, and said back is held firmly in any position by the screw.

The hinge-joint consists of an ordinary hinge provided with a removable pintle, which will enable the user to readily apply or remove the back at pleasure. These parts, it

Serial No. 352,645. (No model.)

will be seen, are very simple, and may be readily connected with any stool or seat without trouble or injury and without requiring any special construction or form of seat. Nor will they be in the Way or inconvenient when the back is removed.

The back B may be made as simple and as light as desired, preferably of some open-work character of the shape shown,.having a main opening, allowing for a better disposal of the garments, and having side supports at its top to rest the shoulders upon.

I am aware that hinged backs for chairs and stools having means for varying their inclination have been used. and that in connection with a hinge-joint a ratchet-arm to control said joint has been proposed; but it will be found that in the use of a ratchet-arm the inclination of the back cannot be accurately determined. Nor can it be held firmly and safely in the position to which it may be adjusted. In my construction, however, the thumb-screw provides for the most accurate determination of the inclination, and especially for the absolute security and firmness of the back in any position.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A piano-stool consisting of a seat portion having a threaded nut let into its central back portion, a back portion, a hinge connecting the lower edge of said back portion with the lower edge of the seat portion and having a removable pintle, whereby the back is removably secured, and a thumb-screw passing through the back portion at a point above the hinge-connection and in line with the threaded nut and adapted to enter said nut, whereby the inclination of the back may be varied, as herein described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

STEPHEN C. HOIIGHTON.

Witnesses:

S. H. NoUEsE, H. 0. LEE. 

